Hi here from a rural part of nepal, and i have been feeling lonely, longing for romantic relationships, can u recommend me anything, books u wish u had read on ur 20s. theory, poetry novels anything. Thank u sm

Hi all! I'm hoping this is a good place to ask this, but let me know if there are other subs that might be better!

I'm looking for any articles/books/essays/etc discussing the somewhat recent phenomenon where transphobes say trans people are sinful but also are always talking about their genitals. it's mostly online/on social media where conservative/right wing grifters espouse that 'transgender people are sinful/wrong/dirty/what have you' while simultaneously talking about trans people in very sexual ways, or bringing up trans folks' genitalia when not relevant.

Please let me know if you have any resources in this realm! Thanks in advance!

Hi! Obviously it isn't caused by queer theory books alone, i just have a bad moment in life. The books i read were mostly pessimistic or just sad (Lee Edelman, which speaks to me but also brings out the worst out of me) and i feel like i just lost hope in life, in change of status quo. Would love to hear some books/media recomendations which are nicer to the brain (fe i loved the queer art of failure, it was really playfully written and fun/and Cruising Utopia). Something balanced that wouldn't scream ''good vibes only'' and queer assimilation.

Anyone? Please help :) :(

i’m not necessarily asking for a starting point on queer theory because i’m not new to the ideas of queer theory, just haven’t delved as much into the books as i’d like.

Hello, people, how do you do?

How can I (cis straight male) introduce myself to queer theory, more specifically the knowledge related to transgender women?

I come from a christian normative household and live in a country that is not very safe for trans women. I want to be able to support my girlfriend.

I don’t have any knowledge or experience with queer issues, theoretical basis, nor do I know anyone from this universe except for my girlfriend.

Thanks in advance.

Hi all! I’m looking to do some research on the history of queer haircuts/hairstyling as a form of self/community expression. Namely, I’m trying to read up on sources that reference how queer hairstyling can be a method of community building and an outlet for understanding your relationship to your own body. I’m open to any form of reading material being shared (poetry, academic journals, ethnographies, music, novels, etc.). I’m at the beginning stages of my research, so any direction would be greatly appreciated!

Hey /QueerTheory-members,

I’m Michelle (any pronouns), a 30-year-old non-binary philosophy and anglophone studies student, teacher trainee, and currently a working student (Werkstudent) helping coordinate materials and speakers for a Queer Linguistics seminar at the University of Duisburg-Essen.

Outside of academics, I’m a huge fan of video games (Stardew Valley will always have my heart, even as I lose time to Marvel Rivals), creating art, and going to music festivals (metalcore, post-hardcore, pop punk, drum and bass—basically all the vibes).

I’m here because I’m working on my linguistic Master’s thesis titled:

“From Other to Self-Labeling: Intersex Identities in German and American Language Communities.”

What I’m Exploring

My research focuses on how self-designations of intersex individuals compare to medical, legal, and official terms. Some of the questions I aim to answer include:

• How do self-definitions differ from medical/legal terms?
• What effects do official terms have on intersex identity and self-image?
• Do official terms promote or hinder social acceptance and visibility in Germany and the U.S.?

To do this, I’m analyzing medical/legal definitions, books written by intersex people, and media they’ve created. I’ll also create a questionnaire to better understand how intersex individuals self-identify, how they feel about official definitions, and where they see gaps or issues. My goal is to amplify authentic intersex experiences and critically evaluate how official definitions could be improved.

How You Can Help

I’m looking for German and American intersex individuals willing to:

• Join me for a ~30-40 minute Zoom interview.
• Answer questions about self-labeling and official definitions of intersex identities.

Important Notes:

• No need to use your real name, camera, or voice. You can stay as anonymous as you want, even using a voice changer.
• The interviews will be recorded and transcribed for my thesis, but you can opt out at any time.
• Compensation can be discussed privately if needed.

The questionnaire is still in the works, but I’d like to connect with anyone interested in participating or learning more. If you’d like to warm up, I’m happy to chat via email or have a call beforehand to ensure you feel comfortable.

TL;DR:

• Are you part of the intersex community?
• Are you from Germany or the U.S.?
• Would you be open to answering questions about self-labeling and official terms during a recorded Zoom interview?

If yes, please DM me here on Reddit or email me at queerlinguist@gmx.de.

Your perspective would mean the world to me and help make this research as inclusive and impactful as possible.

Thank you so much for reading! 💜
Michelle

I subscribe to Hocquenghem's theory that sexual orientation - and the concept of sexuality itself - is a fiction and convenient locus for societal regulation of sexual normativity. That the erotic exists in every single relation you have to the world and culture demands a magnification or suppression of it in various ways in order to create the family structure and reproduce society through generations.

I am interested in how heteronormativity has maintained itself in the modern era of homosexual acceptance through limiting the opportunities for people (especially men) to become aware of latent homosexual desires within themselves. Has there been any research into this area?

Today, I was reading Jose Munoz's Cruising Utopia. I was struck when he said, "I have resisted Foucault and Benjamin because their thought has been well mined in the field of queer critique, so much so that these two thinkers' paradigms now feel almost tailor-made for queer studies." I am fairly well-read in Benjamin but have not encountered much of his reception in Queer Theory, and am really struck by the suggestion he is "tailor-made for queer studies."

Does anyone know much about the reception Benjamin in queer studies or have readings to recommend.

Hey folx,

I’m a queer, desi, psych student currently in the early stages of researching to potentially write a chapter for a book. The chapter will focus on themes of queer lives, colonization, and collective losses. That’s just a brief overview—if you’re curious and want to know more, feel free to DM me!

I’m looking to connect with researchers or authors who might be working on a book and would be interested in having me contribute a chapter. If you know of any platforms, networks, or communities where I could find potential collaborators—or even pitch this idea—please let me know.

Any leads would mean the world to me!

Hello all!

I am currently in my last year of my undergraduate, and I am specifically studying how queer people find belonging and companionship through both digital and physical spaces. I figured reddit is the perfect place to start because this group specifically is such a strong community. If you could please fill out this 7-question ANONYMOUS form, I would be so so grateful.

The link is provided here: https://forms.gle/BaUN6XqXNCimrsTt8

No email collected, no name collected, just your responses on how you find belonging. Thank you so much for helping a student excel in their studies!

Hi everyone, forgive me if this is the wrong place to post this but I am currently writing an essay on drag and need to define it (obviously) for the purposes of the essay. Does anyone know of any good definitions of drag from any prominent queer theorists? I can't seem to find any, as all texts I've found seem to operatee on the basis that we already know what drag is....I dont want to have to use the OED definition!!!! Thank you in advance :)

This may sound stupid but...why is drag a primarily queer practice.?And, more importantly, is there anny literature that discusses this? I am writing an essay about identity/drag etc. and have been reading lots about how drag is queer and the importance of drag to queer identities. But how about the reverse?? Why is it majority queer people who partake in drag?? And which academics are talking about it?! Thank you in advance :)

I keep coming across the term identity politics recently and while I feel like I have a fair grasp of the concept, I feel that often I'm encountering it being used to argue that queer identities reflect a small group of people and queer views and issues are being over represented and basically pandered to. Particularly around the use of inclusive language.

I understand it more to mean that Queer struggles align with broader universal struggles for freedom of self expression, access to universal health care, right to self determine and what not, and when identity labels dominate conversations it allows for people who don't identify as queer to easily opt out of those discussions, and isolates and fragments people. It also seems to interact with race and class in setting standards of what it looks like to belong to this identity.

Where I struggle with it is on a practical point of view I do need people to know my pronouns in the same way I need them to know my name. It's a function of english language. I'm not pushing some identity politics agenda, I'm just going to rhyme time with my kid or whatever, exisiting. Its been coming up a lot more since Trump was re-elected, which is annoying because I'm not American but we import a lot of the US political conversations.

I would love some resources to learn more about what identity politics actually means, especially discussion grounded in day to day life although I don't mind theory, I'm just new to it and time poor.

Hi everyone,

I study comparative literature and political theory in Paris and I am doing some preliminary research for my master's thesis. It's still too early for me to decide what to do exactly but I'm quite interested in the queer critique of identity politics and exploring it through the concept of jouissance (jouissance is a psychoanalytical term usually translated as enjoyment). The idea would be a type of enjoyment, sexual but not only, who would disturb identities and blur the boundaries of the subject.

I know it's quite vague that's why I need to read more. I heard someone mention the notion of psychic excess in sexuality in the work of Butler but I haven't been able to actually find it in their books.

Anyways, if any of you has some recs for digging deeper in that direction, I would be very thankful :)

Take care !

My friends and I always talk about the joy and freedom that comes from being gay/queer/nonbinary. Specifically, how being so allows us to be free of societal expectations and harmful gender roles.

So I was wondering if anyone knows of any research or books that touch on this. I would love to see what we feel and talk about put more eloquently/professionally.

This study seeks to understand some of the things that may link cisheterosexist experiences and mental health in LGBTQ+ young people. It invites you to complete 3 short surveys - one when you are ready, another two weeks later, and another two weeks after that.

We would really value your participation :)

Participants must be:

1. LGBTQ+ (inc. questioning/unsure)
2. 16-25 years old
3. based in the UK

Study provided ethical approval by King's College London Ethics Committee (Ref: HR/DP-24/25-45481)

Link to the information sheet and first survey is here, which includes contact information if you have any questions: https://kclbs.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_blz1Qd1t6H7MBds

Hello – I am studying the effects of shame for cisgender closeted LGBQ people. In the following survey, you will answer about 20 questions. You should not experience any more than everyday discomfort should you choose to take this survey.  You can skip questions or withdraw from the survey at any time. Anonymity for participants will be maintained; data will not be linked to names.

There may be some questions some may find explicit in nature. Please skip any and all questions that you feel you cannot answer.

The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete. If you are interested, please click the link below:

By clicking the link and taking the survey, I am acknowledging that I am 18 years of age or older, AND live in the United States AND identify as the gender that was assigned to me birth AND identify as a *closeted Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Queer person

*You can be closeted to everyone, a select few, or even only out to people online

https://qualtricsxmzkwpyrq86.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_da0yvwxohAnAi0u

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at: 

Josh

researchshame@gmail.com

Or my faculty advisor at:

rplante@ithaca.edu

I've read a bunch of books and have stuff I'd like to discuss in real time, anybody know any discord servers for this subject?

Hi Folks,

I’m putting together a syllabus where I pair some classic works of theory (mostly but not only queer theory) with works of literature or media. I want to teach Eve Sedgewicks classic essay on Paranoid Reading, but I am struggling to think of what to pair it with. I thought I would try to crowdsource some ideas.

Also, if folks have ideas for Sontag's Notes on Camps or David Halperin's How to Do a History of Homosexuality, I would also love to hear